Budgethttp://wrvo.org
enEducation issues front and center in 2015http://wrvo.org/post/education-issues-front-and-center-2015
<p></p><p>Education will be a big issue in 2015. Lines are already drawn between public school teachers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and the charter school movement.</p><p>Before the New Year even began, the state’s largest teachers union was already making its displeasure with Cuomo known, by protesting outside the governor’s mansion.</p><p>New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) President Karen Magee says teachers are angry over what they see as the governor's increasingly negative view of their union and the public education system in general. &nbsp;</p>Tue, 06 Jan 2015 10:40:00 +0000Karen DeWitt66539 at http://wrvo.orgEducation issues front and center in 2015Comptroller warns not to confuse budget windfall with surplus http://wrvo.org/post/comptroller-warns-not-confuse-budget-windfall-surplus
<p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">State Comptroller Tom </span>DiNapoli<span style="line-height: 1.5;"> says $5 billion in extra money that New York is reaping from bank settlements should not be viewed as a surplus, and should not be spent as though there will be more money coming in the future.</span></p>Tue, 02 Dec 2014 11:00:29 +0000Karen DeWitt65032 at http://wrvo.orgComptroller warns not to confuse budget windfall with surplus Oswego releases mayor's 2015 budget; no layoffs expectedhttp://wrvo.org/post/oswego-releases-mayors-2015-budget-no-layoffs-expected
<p></p>Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:05:02 +0000Gino Geruntino64202 at http://wrvo.orgOswego releases mayor's 2015 budget; no layoffs expectedOnondaga County passes budget, excludes extra funding for dog kennelhttp://wrvo.org/post/onondaga-county-passes-budget-excludes-extra-funding-dog-kennel
<p>It was a relatively easy budget season for Onondaga County lawmakers this fall. Legislators unanimously approved County Executive Joanie Mahoney’s proposed $1.25 billion spending plan. There was only one hiccup; concern about spending more money for construction of a dog kennel at the Jamesville Correctional Facility.</p>Wed, 15 Oct 2014 16:46:58 +0000Ellen Abbott62958 at http://wrvo.orgOnondaga County passes budget, excludes extra funding for dog kennelState police helicopter move leaves gap in service in Onondaga Countyhttp://wrvo.org/post/state-police-helicopter-move-leaves-gap-service-onondaga-county
<p></p>Thu, 17 Jul 2014 19:41:39 +0000Ellen Abbott59035 at http://wrvo.orgState police helicopter move leaves gap in service in Onondaga CountyDiNapoli trying to reduce account of unclaimed fundshttp://wrvo.org/post/dinapoli-trying-reduce-account-unclaimed-funds
<p></p><p></p><p></p><p>New York’s Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is trying to whittle down a fund of abandoned or unclaimed money owed to&nbsp;both individuals and municipalities.</p><p>DiNapoli’s office says there are more than 31 million accounts in the state with money sitting in them. It can be a utility deposit or old bank account that sat unused too long and was turned over to the state.</p><p>About 10,000 of those unclaimed funds belong to towns and cities throughout the state, worth more than $5 million.</p>Wed, 18 Jun 2014 12:44:25 +0000Ryan Delaney57506 at http://wrvo.orgDiNapoli trying to reduce account of unclaimed fundsMiner vetoes council's tax increase in Syracuse budgethttp://wrvo.org/post/miner-vetoes-councils-tax-increase-syracuse-budget
<p></p><p>Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner has vetoed a last-minute property tax hike the Common Council added to the city's spending plan because she says councilors didn't bring it up for public discussion first.</p><p>"When you don’t allow that process to happen, you create cynicism and you allow people to get turned off from the process," Miner said Wednesday.</p>Thu, 15 May 2014 10:42:01 +0000Ryan Delaney55796 at http://wrvo.orgMiner vetoes council's tax increase in Syracuse budgetOn budget victory lap, Cuomo says best is yet to comehttp://wrvo.org/post/budget-victory-lap-cuomo-says-best-yet-come
<p></p><p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo continued his publicity tour Monday on the recently passed state budget with a stop in Syracuse.</p><p>Cuomo, a Democrat, was a late edition to the agenda at the annual meeting of CenterState CEO, a business development group. About a thousand business owners and local leaders attended the luncheon at the OnCenter.</p><p>The governor praised CenterState CEO's president, Rob Simpson, and Onondaga County's "phenomenal" Executive, Joanie Mahoney.</p>Mon, 14 Apr 2014 23:42:00 +0000Ryan Delaney54267 at http://wrvo.orgOn budget victory lap, Cuomo says best is yet to comeCommon Council begins work on Syracuse budgethttp://wrvo.org/post/common-council-begins-work-syracuse-budget
<p>The Syracuse Common Council is getting its hands on the mayor’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which doesn’t call for a tax increase.</p><p>More than half of the city’s $660 million budget goes to the school district.</p><p>For the rest of the budget, on the upside, the mayor’s office expects to see increased revenue from sales tax, parking fees and property tax collection -- thanks to the land bank, the agency tasked with handling the cities massive list of vacant properties.</p>Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:15:48 +0000Ryan Delaney54063 at http://wrvo.orgUpstate N.Y. drone test site gets another $1 million in fundinghttp://wrvo.org/post/upstate-ny-drone-test-site-gets-another-1-million-funding
<p></p><p>There's another $1 million in the recently passed state budget for upstate New York's new drone testing program, which means the site now has enough funding to get through at least its first year of operations.</p>Wed, 02 Apr 2014 12:16:47 +0000Ryan Delaney53635 at http://wrvo.orgUpstate N.Y. drone test site gets another $1 million in fundingCuomo, Astorino see differently on Common Core dealhttp://wrvo.org/post/cuomo-astorino-see-differently-common-core-deal
<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo says parents and students can exhale knowing that the second round of Common Core aligned test scores will not be included on student's permanent transcripts under the new budget deal.</p><p>The new standards in English and math designed to improve college and career readiness have been criticized by some parents who say that the roll-out was done too fast and from educators claiming that they weren't given sufficient material and guidance to teach the new standards.</p>Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:17:52 +0000Ryan Delaney & Gino Geruntino53596 at http://wrvo.orgCuomo, Astorino see differently on Common Core dealComptroller says public financing plan has serious flawshttp://wrvo.org/post/comptroller-says-public-financing-plan-has-serious-flaws
<div><p>The state’s top accountant says a test public campaign finance plan that would apply only to his office is seriously flawed, and might even be unworkable.&nbsp;</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">The budget provision, which first surfaced late Friday, would enact a pilot public campaign finance program limited to the comptroller’s office. </span></p>Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:02:35 +0000Karen DeWitt53522 at http://wrvo.orgComptroller says public financing plan has serious flawsAdvocates, lawmakers lobby for more spinal cord research fundinghttp://wrvo.org/post/advocates-lawmakers-lobby-more-spinal-cord-research-funding
<p></p>Mon, 24 Mar 2014 11:54:26 +0000Jenna Flanagan53157 at http://wrvo.orgAdvocates, lawmakers lobby for more spinal cord research fundingDozens arrested at Capitol as budget talks continuehttp://wrvo.org/post/dozens-arrested-capitol-budget-talks-continue
<p></p>Fri, 21 Mar 2014 10:51:48 +0000Karen DeWitt53035 at http://wrvo.orgDozens arrested at Capitol as budget talks continueBusiness groups knock Cuomo's tax freeze planhttp://wrvo.org/post/business-groups-knock-cuomos-tax-freeze-plan
<p></p><p>Both houses of the legislature are making changes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s tax freeze plan in their budget proposals. And now small business groups are speaking out, saying the proposal favors some homeowners at their expense.</p><p>The state Assembly’s budget replaces Cuomo’s plan to distribute widespread rebate checks to homeowners with an alternative to benefit New Yorkers who can least afford to pay their property taxes. The Senate is also making changes, even though Republicans in the majority say they still want to reduce property taxes.</p>Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:58:24 +0000Karen DeWitt52686 at http://wrvo.orgAssembly, Senate budget plans duehttp://wrvo.org/post/assembly-senate-budget-plans-due
<p>Budget negotiations are expected to get serious at the state Capitol this week, with the spending plan due at the end of the month.<br /><br />The Senate and Assembly are due to put out their one house budget resolutions Wednesday, the first step toward reaching a final deal with Gov. Andrew Cuomo.<br /><br />There are a number of unresolved issues, including how to pay for and structure a plan to provide universal pre-kindergarten to New York’s four-year-olds, and a multi-step plan proposed by Cuomo to freeze property taxes has faced skepticism.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />Mon, 10 Mar 2014 11:27:49 +0000Karen DeWitt52433 at http://wrvo.orgGrowing unease over Cuomo's tax freeze planhttp://wrvo.org/post/growing-unease-over-cuomos-tax-freeze-plan
<p></p><p>There’s growing unease over Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s tax freeze plan.</p>Fri, 07 Mar 2014 12:28:49 +0000Karen DeWitt52335 at http://wrvo.orgSyracuse school district requests more state aidhttp://wrvo.org/post/syracuse-school-district-requests-more-state-aid
<p></p>Tue, 18 Feb 2014 19:25:51 +0000Ellen Abbott51518 at http://wrvo.orgSyracuse school district requests more state aidEducation advocates express budget concernshttp://wrvo.org/post/education-advocates-express-budget-concerns
<p></p><p></p><p></p>Fri, 24 Jan 2014 12:13:52 +0000Ellen Abbott50286 at http://wrvo.orgEducation advocates express budget concernsOswego Common Council hoping for rebound after difficult 2013http://wrvo.org/post/oswego-common-council-hoping-rebound-after-difficult-2013
<p></p>Wed, 22 Jan 2014 13:22:56 +0000Gino Geruntino50190 at http://wrvo.orgReform groups urge Cuomo to include public campaign funding in budgethttp://wrvo.org/post/reform-groups-urge-cuomo-include-public-campaign-funding-budget
<p></p>Fri, 17 Jan 2014 12:00:07 +0000Karen DeWitt50037 at http://wrvo.orgComptroller says state probably can afford tax cuts, but just barelyhttp://wrvo.org/post/comptroller-says-state-probably-can-afford-tax-cuts-just-barely
<p>State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says he’ll need to see more details and end of the calendar year state revenue figures before deciding whether the state can afford $2 billion in new tax cuts that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is likely to propose.</p><p>Governor Cuomo says he thinks if state spending is held to a 2 percent growth rate next year, there will be enough money in the state budget to finance $2 billion worth of property and business tax cuts.</p><p>Comptroller DiNapoli says he’s not so sure it will all add up.</p>Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:19:00 +0000Karen DeWitt48866 at http://wrvo.orgDespite projected budget gap, Cuomo seeking tax cutshttp://wrvo.org/post/despite-projected-budget-gap-cuomo-seeking-tax-cuts
<p></p>Mon, 11 Nov 2013 12:37:24 +0000Karen DeWitt46960 at http://wrvo.orgDespite projected budget gap, Cuomo seeking tax cutsOnondaga County legislature, sheriff's department at odds over budgethttp://wrvo.org/post/onondaga-county-legislature-sheriffs-department-odds-over-budget
<p></p>Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:56:52 +0000Ellen Abbott45379 at http://wrvo.orgOnondaga County legislature, sheriff's department at odds over budgetCuomo projects budget surplus, looks at tax cutshttp://wrvo.org/post/cuomo-projects-budget-surplus-looks-tax-cuts
<p></p><p>New York&rsquo;s budget could have a surplus within a few years, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which has prompted him to look at ways to cut taxes.</p><p>Cuomo credits on time budgets, controlled taxes and a rebounding economy for the positive budget news. That&rsquo;s why the governor <a href="http://wrvo.org/post/cuomo-looks-former-rivals-head-tax-cutting-commission" target="_blank">formed a commission this week to look at ways to cut taxes</a> by $2-3 billion.</p><p>&ldquo;I think we can do even more,&rdquo; he said in Syracuse Thursday.</p>Thu, 03 Oct 2013 18:01:05 +0000Ryan Delaney45114 at http://wrvo.orgJoanie Mahoney presents Onondaga County 2014 budgethttp://wrvo.org/post/joanie-mahoney-presents-onondaga-county-2014-budget
<p></p>Fri, 13 Sep 2013 20:56:07 +0000Ellen Abbott44138 at http://wrvo.orgJoanie Mahoney presents Onondaga County 2014 budgetStudy finds New York analyzing tax dollar usage wellhttp://wrvo.org/post/study-finds-new-york-analyzing-tax-dollar-usage-well
<p>New York has been labeled a "leading" state for effective use of cost-benefit analysis in a new study from the Pew-MacArthur Results First initiative. That means New York is doing a better job of making sure tax dollars are spent well, than other states.</p><p>Cost benefit analysis is determining the return on an investment. In this case&nbsp; it's determining how much the taxpayer benefits from each public dollar spent.</p>Mon, 29 Jul 2013 20:45:10 +0000Ryan Delaney41817 at http://wrvo.orgStudy finds New York analyzing tax dollar usage wellComptroller DiNapoli: Watertown in good fiscal healthhttp://wrvo.org/post/comptroller-dinapoli-watertown-good-fiscal-health
<p>State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli came to Watertown on Wednesday to commend the city's leadership on its sound financial stewardship. DiNapoli's office is rolling out a program of annual fiscal “stress tests” for municipalities and school districts. And the comptroller said Watertown sets an example for prudent financial planning.&nbsp;</p><p>Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:49:45 +0000Joanna Richards39455 at http://wrvo.orgComptroller DiNapoli: Watertown in good fiscal healthCuomo details local government bailout planhttp://wrvo.org/post/cuomo-details-local-government-bailout-plan
<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo outlined his proposal for a new local government restructuring board to help financially distressed communities deal with long term budget problems.Wed, 15 May 2013 12:55:21 +0000Karen DeWitt37854 at http://wrvo.orgState of Onondaga County is financially soundhttp://wrvo.org/post/state-onondaga-county-financially-sound
<p>Unlike many other local governments in New York state, Onondaga County has weathered the recent fiscal crisis, and come out on firm financial footing. In her State of the County address Tuesday night, County Executive Joanie Mahoney credits recent budget cutting tactics for the difference.Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:11:23 +0000Ellen Abbott34361 at http://wrvo.org